God Love 'Em

I was coming home from the bank the other week when I spotted him.

Parked outside the paint-store-other-than-the-one-we-work-for, I watched him get out of his beat-up station wagon and walk around to the back. He was naturally dressed in painter's whites, wore a well-used cap, and had a full, white beard.

An Old Painter.

Old Painters are easy to spot. For one thing, they're working on a Saturday or even a Sunday, because they "have to finish that job up before they'll cut the check." They're usually by themselves, or they have their current, equally haggard girlfriend with them. See, Old Painters rarely have wives. They've usually left long ago. They operate out of one truck (or old station wagon) because really, they don't need anything else.

If you get close enough, you may be able to smell the stale beer on his breath or exuding from his pores. If he's a really Old Painter, you'll smell coffee and cigarette smoke from the morning AA meeting.

As I sat in traffic, I watched him continue to the back of his car and lift up the hatch. Continuing to hold the hatch with one hand, I saw him reach into the back.

"Don't do it," I thought.

After fishing around, his hand came out with a roller pole.

"Oh no!" I grinned.

Sure enough, he propped up the back of the wagon with the roller pole.

Old Painters can't be bothered with fixing hydraulic hinges. Young painters can't be bothered with it, either. The back of my mini van was broken for years because Himself had "fixed" it by finding the perfect-sized pole for me to prop it up.

As I watched the Old Painter stuff a rag into his back pocket and head into the paint store, I was suddenly filled with a surge of affection for him. See, we have our own Old Painter still working out of his truck in the desert, and we haven't seen him for a while. How we love him!

God Bless the Old Painters.

God Love 'Em!

At Last, at Last!

It has been an incredibly busy week here at the Sandbar. I'm back to scheduling a nap and it looks like Thursday's out!

Friday night was our Beautiful Girlhood weekend. We had a dinner, speaker (me, then Kelly!), crafts, and sleepover at the church with our daughters. What fun! I even did some Dance Dance Revolution and by golly, I'm tempted to get one for exercise! My friends BA and J did a LOT of work to make that weekend go so smoothly. I honestly enjoyed every minute of it, and Glenna is still on a cloud from it.

Saturday was the end of the BG weekend, a softball game (canceled by rain), and then Kelly and I went to a fashion show. Sunday was church, then a bridal shower, then a mission's dessert. Today was back to the grindstone with English classes, then a practice softball game. Kelly did so well!

Anyway, who has time for laundry? Dishes? Grading papers? Uploading cool videos?

I finally remembered to march in and get this from Himself's computer. Good thing, too, since he has to drive to West Palm tomorrow for an overnighter. Enjoy! This is the second one, the one I had them do over. Watch Chico when they come down the stairs!

So Close

Sometimes I have internet, sometimes I don't. I'm trying to upload the video now, so I'm praying it lasts the entire time I upload!

Chico is still recovering from the flu. We took him a goody box on Tuesday and he was starting to feel better. Please keep him in your prayers!

Kelly and I watched the end of "Dance War" so we could see who would be on the new season of Dancing with the Stars. We're so excited about Kristie Yamaguchi! Season starts March 17th. Anyone with cable TV want to have a DWTS night and invite some W's over? ;-)


Update on my niece: Tay's still having some pain. She's finishing up antibiotics. Her doctors want her to have yet another CT scan and moved things around to get her in as soon as possible, so she'll be doing that today. Her mom's understandably concerned that she's having her third CT scan in one month. All prayers appreciated!


Evangelin's newest song is finished! Ty left a note on the board for us, saying we would listen to it when he gets home from work tonight. We have a million things on our agenda tonight! I can't wait! According to the guy who owns the studio, the new song "blows everything you've done previously out of the water." Wow!


We've also been expecting our tax return. I just realized that I put too many zeros (I checked it so many times!) in our account, so now we have to wait for them to send us a check instead of electronic transfer. Ty received his already. It's hard to be patient when I've already spent the thing in my head 40 different ways.


Arrgggh! I spent all that time, and it was the wrong video! The one I need is still on Himself's computer. Sorry about that.

Still here

Hi everyone! I'm on the line RIGHT NOW with the AT&T tech guy, trying to get my internet troubles resolved. Sigh.

I'm trying to post Chico and Kelly's dance video, but Himself's computer has a block on videos. Hopefully, if this is resolved, I can post it tonight.

Chico is recovering from the flu. Hope none of you get it!

I'm Starting To Hate . . .

. . . DSL. I never had so much trouble with cable! I have barely been able to get on line at all today. The horror . . . the horror . . .

I will be uploading Kelly and Chico's dance as soon as I'm able! Should I show the one of the actual performance, or the one they did afterwards because I missed Chico's spins at the beginning! (Hey, what was a mother supposed to do? The lighting was all wrong and when I rushed to turn on the lights, the music started!)

Tomorrow is the Trek Bible Bowl and Games. Big fun! I'm sure there'll be stories to tell there, as well.

Today is my anniversary! Himself was going to take me to dinner, but I started to panic from all the preparations I still needed to make for tomorrow. He took a rain check. We'll go at a much less stressful hour. What a guy! However, we did buy ice cream to celebrate with the girls.

Ty is not here. He is playing a show, then heading back to Ocala to record again! I can't wait! He asked me to buy the band a $2,000 amp so they could use it for recording. I told him no, since my tax return hasn't come yet. He said, "Come on! I know you can do it! Refinance something!"

:-)

Why is it. . .

Why is it . . . the teacher's kid rarely has homework ready?

Why is it . . . when women's underwear wears out, it's because the elastic is shot. When men's underwear wears out, nothing is left except the elastic? Can't these two companies get together?

Why is it . . . no one comes over when the house is clean?


Do you have any "Why is it" jewels to share?

Late Night Shenanigans

In my spare time, when I'm not teaching or doing AWANA or driving kids around, I have this darker side that loves to wander about at night.

Fortunately, I'm able to bring others along who share my tastes in adventure, fun, and pranks.

Here's Kate and Kelly, gearing up for the night's adventures with the precise placement of night make-up.

Are you afraid? Oh, be very, very afraid. Just look at those serious faces!

We're not sure about Stephen's application of night make-up. It looks more like a play on a coach's clip board for a football game.


Our first stop was Mr. and Mrs. C's for flamingo removal. They had been hit and hit hard; it wasn't a pretty scene. They were more than happy to pay the removal fee so they could once again hold their heads up high in their neighborhood.

These two were helpers, too. There's some in every crowd who want to have a flamingo-leg-fight. Sure, it's all fun an games until someone pokes their eye out!

We piled in the flamingos and headed to the next destination. This van belongs to a starving musician. Feed him, please. Feed him with money. Better yet, feed him with gigs that pay money.

Before we left, Mrs. C. came out to thank us profusely for the flamingo removal. Her hubby was even happier!


Here we are, planting the flamingos at the next destination. What stunning technique from our two sleuthy stars! Quiet is key to avoid detection.

See the yard come to life as Kelly plants the last flamingo. Heh heh.

The next morning, a neighbor called this house and asked if they needed him to come over with his shotgun to frighten the flock away.


Whose yard is next? Look out; it might be you!!!



Got Insurance?

Savior or lunatic?

This quote from C.S. Lewis was found on a site I've been visiting after she visited mine. It's from Mere Christianity and it's fabulous, too good not to share or read over and over. So thought provoking! Thanks, dlyn.


"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

Biology Bus

Wednesdays are Biology Days. Since the incredible home school mom who teaches the class lives far away, many of us Moms have joined together to car pool our kids out there (I have the month of March).

My computer is in the kitchen for now, and I can sit and look out the window. What I saw was pretty amusing.






What cracks me up is how Kelly is running around as well, when all she really needs to do is grab her books and come inside!

Kelly is the only girl in the car pool. The guys graciously allow her the front seat, then they all run to see who gets to be in front the minute she exits. I guess she just gets caught up in the excitement and runs around too!

And the Diagnosis Is . . . .

A double ear infection and a long story.

Let's just say I did not pay for the $95 ear drops. I went back to the doctor and changed it to $13 ear drops.

My little Scottish Grandpa would be so proud.

Thanking God for friends who yell at me (BA) and make me go to Urgent Care (Angel T) and even go with me to see it done properly and take notes because I can't think straight (Gina).

I do listen.

Eventually.

Metamorphism of a Living Room

I know this is passive aggressive in note form, but it worked! The piles of band equipment was severely lessened. I am thankful.



On any given day (and if the laundry's done), this is what my living room normally looks like, minus the coffee table:


On any Wednesday (or Sunday if they need it), this is what my living room turns into:

(Note to Grandparents: Ty is putting protection in his ears here.)

That's Beefy behind all the hair.

Yes, Jeremy's belt is pink.

It's days like this when I'm so thankful for our school room. Although the band is great and we love listening to them, they practice for about 4 or 5 hours. It's almost impossible to get anything done while they're here! With the school room, I'm able to grade papers, plan assignments, catch up on Bible study, and help the girls with their work. Even Himself can come out and use laptop and phone without problem.


We've recently added a futon to the school room; perfect for an afternoon nap!


As per BT's request, I'm adding videos of things that happen around my house and in my life. I hope your speakers are able to handle this (and my little camera did a great job of translating all that sound) but I've included a video of the band practicing one of their songs. Yes, I was wearing ear protection while filming.

I love watching Ty play. When the drums were in his room, I would sit on his bed in a position where I could watch his feet. When he first brought home this latest recording and was playing it for Himself, Ty stood behind me and grabbed my hands to play his part, and I rested my feet on his feet so I could feel the bass and hi-hat parts. It was so cool! I don't know how he does it.

On the video, Zach hardly seems to move. This guy is always listening to the songs and seeking ways to improve. Don't mistake his inaction for boredom; he's completely focused. I got close to him at one point, and you can see him begin to break into a smile as I move away. Gotcha! When these guys are playing live, none of them are standing still.



Evangelin - How I Love Ya. I know you'll do great at your show tonight!

ZZZzzzzz

Well, Himself is off to Arizona. I was prodded out of bed at the ungodly hour of 4:55 a.m. to take him there. You know, he knew better than to let me drive at that hour; he drove, then when he was safely delivered I drove home. What on earth are all those people doing on the road at that time? I hardly knew there was another 4 on the clock, and here's people up, sipping coffee, and driving on all the roads I was trying to navigate.

I came home and crashed for a couple of hours, and now people want me to teach them English.

But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep

Hmph

Today, I was driving home and the car in front of me had a Hillary sticker. So, of course, I start mumbling things under my breath.

For one thing, why is she going by HILLARY? Why not Clinton? Maybe because Clinton brings bad memories and Hillary sounds safer?

As I continued to grumble, I noticed what their license plate was actually spelling out:

LY 10 UP

My mom used to tell me that all the time.